Daily Archives: April 29, 2019

Furious residents pack the Village board meeting to oppose gas station, but the board and its mayor pay them no heed, approving it unanimously

Residents attended in big numbers

On April 24th, the Village board room had more people then chairs to seat them (a rare occurrence). Most were there to speak out against a new 12 pump gas station on Irving Park Road between Ozark and Overhill.

It was for naught. The Village government, under the control of the Norridge Improvement Party, didn’t even allow them to speak before they voted unanimously to ram through the zoning petition for a 24-hour gas station with convenience store, video gambling, and liquor.

Prior to the vote, some residents tried to speak out, but were silenced by Norridge Police Chief David Disselhorst.

It was an appalling, disrespectful and more importantly – undemocratic – slap in the face to Village residents.

Strong residential opposition

After the vote, residents took turns raking mayor James Chmura over the coals, followed by loud applause.

A professional geologist for the state of Illinois, Renee Wawczak who has several years of cleaning up leaking gas station sites, expressed her concerns over the gas station proposal.

“As somebody who has cleaned up these sites” she said “They all leak”. Underground storage tanks can leak causing contamination of storm and sanitary sewers, and travel through these systems where they “can release vapors into homes and businesses”.

“The Zoning department has not done their environmental due diligence” Wawczak added.

Ann Chmura (no relation to mayor James Chmura), sent a letter to the Village trustees asking them to postpone the meeting and the decision, which James Chmura and the board confirm that they have received and read.

Ann Chmura and the residents affected only had two weeks to mobilize on this issue. “We were given the opportunity to voice our concerns way too late in the decision process”, Ann Chmura added.

Despite that, they were able to obtain 106 signatures for a petition opposing the development.

Ms Chmura also criticized the Village’s lack of communication on this issue, saying “I didn’t hear about this” until later, further objecting to “the lack of transparency” throughout the process.

Edelweiss’s attorney Sam Amirante echoed the comments of other residents, saying “We don’t want the Village to move too quickly … further studies need to be done”.

“Edelweiss has been there for over 50 years, it’s been a tremendous business in the community, people is Norridge love it, people from all over come to it.”

“If that gas station is allowed to be built without further study how a gas station does affect the environment, children, and a restaurant right across the street from it … those issues have to be addressed by this board … please act prudently and with concern for all our issues”, Amirante said.

Cowski also spoke of traffic issues, “The traffic is going to just be horrific. You don’t live here, you don’t understand.”

Danny Defelice said condos would be better than a 24-hour gas station.

“What kind of suburb do we want to be? Do we want to be a suburb that has slot machines at gas stations or do we want to be more of a Park Ridge where things are a little more restrictive?” Defelice said.

Edelweiss owner Walt Kosch expressed concern with the crime that comes with putting in a gas station, “We’re concerned as corporate citizens next door about that kind of situation.”

“We think it is going to bring in a different type of element into our business, we’re very concerned about that, as well as how it is going to affect our neighbors” Kosch said.

Travis Aguilera said there are 11 children on the 4000 block of Overhill and is concerned about children’s safety.

He also thinks parking will be made worse with the new gas station as the 4000 block of Overhill is already getting overflow parking for Edelweiss.